McLEAN

MacGillean. From a Highland chieftain of the name of Gillean, who was the progenitor of this family. This Gillean was a celebrated warrior, and was called Gillean-ni-Tuoidh, from his ordinary weapon, a battle-ax, which in the Gaelic is Twidh, which his descendants wear to this day in their crest, betwixt a laurel and a cypress branch. The posterity of this Gillean were therefore called Mac Gillean, in all ancient documents, and now of modern date McLeans. Magh Leamhna in the County of Antrim, the estate of the McLeans or Macklins.

LOURY

Signifies in Scotch a crafty person, or one who lowers, that is, contracts his brow; hence a lowry day cloudy.

ABENDROTH

(German) From abend, evening, and roth, red. The name might have been given to a child born at the close of day.

PANCOST

A corruption of Pentecost, the fifteenth day after Easter, a name probably given to a child born on that day.

LOWRY

Signifies in Scotch a crafty person, or one who lowers, that is, contracts his brow; hence a lowry day cloudy.

RYDER

A forest officer, being mounted, and having the supervision of a large district In the ballad of William of Cloudesly, the king, rewarding the dexterity of the archer who shot the apple from his child's head, says: I give thee eightene pence a day, And my bowe thou shalt here; And over all the north countre I make thee chyfe rydere.

CHOLMONDELEY

(Norman.) Local. The place at the gorge or neck of the mountain; from Col, a strait or defile, and mond or mont, a hill. This name is pronounced Chum-ley. An English gentleman meeting the Earl of Cholmon-deley one day coming out of his own house, and not being acquainted with him, asked him if Lord Chol-mond-e-ley (pronouncing each syllable distinctly) was at home. No, replied the peer, without hesitation, nor any of his pe-o-ple.

BALLANTYNE

Local. A place of ancient pagan worship among the Celts, whose principal deity was Belen or Baal, the sun. To the honor of this deity, the Celts lighted fires on the 1st of May and Midsummer day. Baalantine signifies the fire of Baal, from Baalen and teine, Gaelic, fire.

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